Transport infrastructure spending gap set to widen in England

THE disparity in investment in transport infrastructure between London and the English regions is set to widen further, according to a new Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) report.

Despite recent Government commitments to establish a Northern Powerhouse with improved transport links, spending on transport infrastructure will be four times greater in London than across the north of England from 2016/17.

One project in the north of England that is receiving major investment is the new 300-metre long Ordsall Chord in Manchester, part of the £1billion Great North Rail Project scheme to improve rail services across the north. The chord is due to open in December. NETWORK RAIL

Investment will reach £1,943 per head in the capital over the coming years, compared to just £427 in the north. London is expected to account for 54% of all transport infrastructure spending in England from 2017.

According to IPPR North’s Paying for our Progress report, the national infrastructure and construction pipeline shows that London will receive £20.6billion towards all types of infrastructure from 2016/17 onwards, which equates to more than a third of money due to be spent across England as a whole.

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